Compressor or blower.



R. J. MGOARTY.

No. 887,955. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908.

COMPRESSOR 0R BLOWER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.23, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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ll I 21 RICHARD JUSTIN MCCARTY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

GQMPRESSUR R ire. ec oes.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application filed November 23, 1 906. fierial No. 3%,778.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, RICHARD JUSTIN MCCARTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas (Jity, county of Jackson, and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Compressors or Blowers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention pertains to air compressors, blowers, pumps, or the like) and aims to produce a device of this character ,which shall be rotary in operation and simple in construction.

Another object of the improvement is to provide effective means for cooling the ma chine, means for lubricating its parts, and devices for easily and readily varying and controlling the pressure of the delivered air or other fluid.

One of the important features of my invention is the centrifugally, actuated blades or wings which operate to maintain tight a plurality of compartments whose volumes are caused to gradually diminish and thereby compress the contained fluid, because of the inward forcing of the blades or wings as they revolve by means of a spiral or eccentric internal surface of a surrounding or inclosing casing.

0n the accompanying drawing, 1 have illustrated a desirable-embodiment. of my invention and on all the viewsdike reference characters refer to the same parts.

Figure l is a side elevation of one embodiment of my invention in compressors or pumps; Fig, 2 is an end elevation of the same structure; Fig. 3 is a rear view of one of the centrifugally actuated blades or wings;

Fig. 4 is a central verticai section of the compressor or blower; and-Fig. 5 is a central cross-section of the sermon line 55.

The device includes a substantially cen trally disposed rotatable shaft to which is keyed at 11 a hollow substantially round wing or blade support or hub-12, the two outwardly extended side walls of which each have two series of holes or perforations l3 and 14 forming means for communication between the interior space 15 and the external air. The purpose of these apertures is to create currents of air through the support or hub as indicated by the arrows on Fig. 5, during the rotation of the hub to maintain it cool. Centrifugal force thrusts the air in the chamber 15 out through aperflows through pipe 25.

tures 1a and at the same time causes an entrance of cooler air through holes 13, whereby the change of air helps to prevent the de vice irom becoming unduly hot.

Acrossits outer face sup ort or member 12 has a'number of cylindrica undercut grooves 16, in the present instance, 12 in number. Within each is: adapted to fit and turn the hollow cylindrical hub 17 of a wing or blade 18 bent backward somewhat from its hub and recessed or curved at its end at 19 to neatly fit over the hub of the adjacent wing when in its innermost or collapsed condition. Grooves 16 extend. completely across the face of member 12 permitting thehubs and blades to be withdrawn from or-inserted into the grooves by sliding them lengthwise thereof. These blades are ada ted to be forced ou wardly by centrifuga force and in moving under the influence of this force their hubs turn in the grooves which form their bearings. it is, therefore, desirable to provide some means for lubricating or oiling these hinge or pivotal connections and to meet this need each hub is provided with a longitudinal slot 20 through which lubricant of the proper consistency placed within the hollow interior of the hub may r'ind its way to the bearing, being aided by the centrifugal force occasioned by the rapid revolution of the parts.

Mountedon supporting legs or feet 21 integral therewith and surrounding the winged member 12 is a round casing or run 22 having the annular water chamber or compartment 23 to which cooling water is admitted through pipe 24 and from which the water The internal surface of casing 22 is spaced from member 12 a varying amount being eccentric to the. axis of shaft 16 and forming with respect to the bladesand member 12 over the surface 2?, 28, 29, 3G, 31 and 32 a flat s iral, as d stinguished from a helical spira which gradually approaches the center or member 1201" axis of shaft 10 in the direction of rotation of the shaft and blades, this direction being; counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. i; and indicated by the arrow. From 32 to 27 the she. e of the surface is immaterial so'long as it a ords proper easement for the motion of the blades from their innermost or collapsed position at 32 to their extreme outer or extended position at 27. As wil be observed from the drawin s, the front faces of the blades are curve or rounded to provide a smooth and effective bearing of the blade on its coeperating spiral surface 26 in all positions of the blade. I I

Casing 22, member 12, and blades 18 are of the same width or length, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5, and to the two sides of casing 22 are bolted at 33 and 34 sides 35 and 36 each equipped with a curved air chamber 37 and 38, respectively, lying at' the sides of the compartments formed by the blades between casing 22 and member 12. Casing 22 and the sides 35 and 36 form in efiect an inclosingj xor surrounding casing for the hub and blades. Since the blades are of the same length as the distance between the sides,.they form partitions which have a substantially, airtight joint with the sides. The outline-of the air chambers may be traced by reference characters 3950, inclusive, onl ig. 1, the outlets being characterized 51, and it will be noted that the chambers extend around a proximately three-quarters of a circle. s will be observed the casing 22, sides 35 and 36 and member '12 form a substantially an reduction of pressure.

nular chamber of varying thickness or depth divided into. compartments or sections b the blades which are pushed out by centrifugal force into contact-with the casing during their rotation about the axis of shaft 10. In one or both flat plate portions 52 of the two sides 35 and 36 there is provided an air inlet or entrance port 53 of such shape, size and location that any one of the blades or wings 18 may be withdrawn therethrough when the machine is not in o eration, but during the rotation of the sha t and blades the latter by the centrifugal force are thrust outwardly into the position shown in Fi 1 so that their removal, either intentiona or accidental, cannot be efiected since they overla a part of the side.

Each airchamber has an elongated curved port 54 communicating with the compartments between the blades, but since it may be desirable or necessary to vary the pressure of the air delivered to the air chambers, each is equipped with a plurality of valves 55 to 64, inc usive, any one or more of which may be opened to establish an earlier delivery of the air to the chambers with a consequent The valves 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 on one side of the machine and in connection with one of the air chambers are disposed opposite the middle points beear/gees centers of the sides 35 and 36, as is most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. v

Theo eration of the compressor or blower is as fo lows:

speed, the latter are forced bycentrifugal force against the s iral surface of casing 22 so as to form a p urality or succession of When the hub 12. and the blades 18 are revolving at a high rate of closed compartments, the ends of the blades I rubbing on, or in extremely close relation to the inner faces of the sides. As each compartment advances in its rotation,owin to the approach of surface 26 toward the ub and to the inward turning of the wings or blades 18 forming its front and rear walls, its

volume gradually decreases until at the point v 32 its volume is almost nothing. The external air enters each compartment through the admission port or ports 53 when its volume is a maximum and, as the compartment rotates, its volume is forcibly diminished by the blades riding on andcontacting with the spiral surface 26. Providedall theair chamber valves are closed, this compression of the air continues until the compartment registers with or comes op osite the exhaust ports 54 when the air un er ressure is delivered to the air chambers. fhenthe compartment has reached the point 32,'its volume is practically nil, its entire contents having left the air chambers. The speed of rotation and weight of the blades must be such that the pressure in one compartment does not exceed that of the following compartment, plus the pressure of the blade against thespiral surface 26 produced by the centrifugal force, otherwise the blade would be pushed back or down by the air in the front or advance compartment, thereby destroying the effectiveness of the operation of the machine. vided a less pressure is required inthe air chamber, one or more of the valves 55- 64, inclusive, may be opened. Under such circumstances, the compression of the air is not so great as in the previous instance before it is delivered to or discharged into the air chambers. Tn passin from the point 32 to 27, the blades gradua y. become extended or moved outwardly, being compelled to do so under the influence of the centrifugal force and permitted to do so because of the shape of the surrounding casings surface. As will Prol be readily understood, the fiow of cold water P in casing 23 and the currents of air in the hub 12 prevent the temperature of the compressor from becoming excessive.

Although I have described this device as est/nee operating to compress and deliver air under pressure, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that it may be used for the same purpose with other fluids, suitable conduits being provided for conducting the fluid to the entrance orts if necessary. Various minor mechanical changes may be made in the structure shown and described without departingfrom the substance of my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. For example, instead of having the blades or wings perform part of the compressing operation, the com ression of the fluid or gas by diminution 0 the volume of the.compart ment may be effected solely by the approach of the spiral surface of the casing toward the winged hub, the blades undersuch circumstances acting exclusively as partitions between the compartments. In such a modification the blades might be mounted to slide radially in the hub, being pressed outwardly by centrifugal force and slid inwardly by the cam or spiral surface of the casing, the

blades in no wise partaking of or performing the compression of the fluid. Instead of having a number of discharge ports or passages leading to the air chambers, the same result may be secured by having a single one or a pair of discharge ports and a plurality of admission ports with valves to open or close them whereby the amount of com pression effected between the-time of admission and discharge may be regulated by opening or closing more or less of the admission ports.

1 claim:

1. In acompressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior surface approaching the axis of said hub or support in the direction of rotationof the latter, and a plurality of trailing wings or blades mounted on said hub or support, extended across the full width of the interior of said casing, and held in rubbing contact with said interior surface under the action of centrifugal force in opposition to the pres-, sures generated and acting on the, front faces of the wings or blades, said wings or blades dividing the space between the hub or support and said casing into a number of tight compartments whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades to effect compression of their contents, substantially as de scribed.

2. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior spiral surface gradually approaching the axis of said hub or support in the direction of rotation of the latter, said casing having admis.

sion and discharge ports, and a plurality of trailing wings or blades mounted on said. hub or support, extended across the full width of the interior of said casing, and held volumes decrease-during the rotation of said hub or support and wings or blades to effect compression of their contents, substantially as described.

3. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub orgsupport and having an interior spiral surface gradually approaching the axis of said hub or'support in the direction of rotation of the latter, and a plurality of trailing wings or blades mounted on said hub or support, extended across the fullwidth of the interior of said casing, and held in rubbing contact with said spiral surface under the action of centrifugal force in opposition to the pressures generated and acting on the forward faces of the wings or blades, said wings or blades dividing the space between said hub or support and said easing into a number of tight compartments whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades to efi'ect compression of their contents, said casing having an admission port communicating with said compartments when their volumes are at a maximum and a discharge port communicating with said compartments after their volumes have decreased and their contents have been compressed, substantially as described.

4.. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior surface gradually approaching the axis of said hub or support in the direction of rotation of the latter, and a plurality of trailing wings or blades hinged to said hub or support, extended across the full width of the interior of said casing, and held in rubbing contact with said interior surface-under the action of centrifugal force in opposition to the pressures generated and acting on the front faces of the wings or blades, said wings or blades dividing the space between said hub or support and said easing into a number of tight com- 7 partments whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades toefiect compression of their contents, substantially as described.

5. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior surface gradually approaching the axis of said hub or support in the direction of rotation of the latter, and a plurality of trailing wings or blades hinged to said hub or support, extended across the full Width of the interior ct said gal force in opposition to the pressures gener ated and acting on the front faces of thecontents, said casing having an admission casing and held in rubbing contact with said interior surface under lll'lG'tGblOll of centrituwings or blades, said wings or blades dividing the space between said hub or support and said casing into a number of tight compartments whose volumes decrease during the rotation. of said hub or support and said wings or blades to effect compression of their port communicating with said compartments when their volumes are at their maximum,-

and a discharge port communicating with said compartments alter their volumes have decreased and their contents have been compressed, substantially as described.

6. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior spiral surface graduallyapproaching the axis of said hub or support in the direction of rotation of the latter, said casing having an admission port, a plurality of wings or blades mounted-on said hub or support, extended across the full width of the interior of said casing, and free to move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force into rubbing contact with said spiral surface to"- divide the 30,

space between said hub or support and said casing into a number of tight compartments whose volumes decrease during the rotation ber, substantially as described;

7. in a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub 01' support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior spiral surface gradually approaching the axis of a said hub or supportin the direction of rotation of the latter, said casing having an admission port,"a plurality, of wings or blades hinged to said hub or support, extended across the full width of the interior of said casing, and free to move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force into rubbin contact with said spiral surface to divi e the space between said hub or support and said easing into a number of tight compartments whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades to .efiect compression of their contents, a chamber to receive the compressed fluid and having means of communication with said compartments at a plurality of points in the path of travel of said compartments, and means for opening and closing said means of communication to control the senate pressure of the fluid delivered tosaid chair her, substantially as described.

8. in a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior spiral surface gradually approaching the axis of said hub or support n the direction of rotation of the latter, said casing having an ad mission port, a plurality of wings or blades mounted on said hub or support, extended having'two series of means of communicationwith said compartments at a plurality of points in. the path of'tr'avel of said compartments, one series being in advance oi the other an amount a proximately equal to onehalf the distance etween the means of the other series, and a valve to control each of I said means of communication, substantially as described. j

9. In a compressor, the combination'oi a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and having an interior spiral surface gradually ap reaching the axis of said hub or support in t is direction of rotation of the latter, said casing having an admission port, a plurality of wings or blades hinged to said hub .01 support, extended across ,the'full width of the interior of said casing, and free to move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force into rubbing contact With said s iral surface to divide the space between sai hub or support and said easing into a number of tight compartments Whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades to effect compression or" their contents, a chamber to recelve the compressed fduid havingtwo series of means of communication with said compartments at a pluralityof points in the path of travel of said compartments, one series being in advance of the other an amount a proximately equal to onehalf the distance etweenthe cans of the other series, and a valve to control each of said means'of communication, substantially as described. 4

10. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary hub or support, a casing inclosing said hub or support and havin an interior spiral surface gradually ap roac ing the amis of said hub or support in t e direction of retation of the latter, and a plurality of wingsor blades hinged to said hub or sup ort and removable therefrom by sliding t e same relative to saidsupport, said wings or blades extending across the full width of the interior of said casing, and free to move outwardly under the action of centrifugal force into rubbing contact with said s iral surface to divide the space between said hub or support and said casing into a number of tight compartments Whose volumes decrease during the rotation of said hub or support and said wings or blades to effect compression of their contents, said casing having an admission port and an exhaust port, the former being of such size, shape, and location as to allow a blade or wing to be removed therethrough but not during normal working conditions of the compressor, substantially as described.

11. In a compressor, the combination of a rotary shaft, a hollow member or hub fixed to said shaft, and a centrifugal-controlled member mounted on and adapted to revolve ,with said hollow member, the latter having through its walls a series of openings or holes forming means of communication from said hollow interior to the exterior air, said holes or openings being at different distances from theaxis of the shaft, whereby currents of air are created in said hollow body by centrifugal force, substantially as described.

7 RICHARD JUSTIN MOCARTY Witnesses:

W. V. BOLMAN, F. H. LANE. 

